New Delhi, July 1:
AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has criticised the BJP over reports of unofficial engagement involving Pakistan, accusing the ruling party of applying different standards when it comes to Indian Muslims.
Speaking at a public event, Owaisi said Muslims are frequently branded as "Pakistanis" or "jihadis" by political opponents, but questioned why similar criticism is absent over reports linking senior BJP leader Ram Madhav to discussions involving Pakistan.
He argued that if Pakistan is viewed as responsible for sponsoring terrorism, any interaction with Pakistani representatives should be explained openly. Owaisi also reiterated that Indian Muslims are loyal citizens whose families chose to remain in India after Partition and have no connection with Pakistan.
Ram Madhav has rejected the reports, saying he did not participate in any India-Pakistan "Track 2" dialogue. He clarified that he attended a regional strategic conference in Colombo, delivered his remarks, and left, adding that claims of backchannel talks were inaccurate.
The controversy has sparked fresh political debate, with opposition leaders demanding clarity over unofficial interactions with Pakistan, while those linked to the event maintain that it was a multilateral regional conference rather than a bilateral dialogue.
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